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Feb. 21, 1956 A. W. scHoPPER PREFABRICATED WALL PANELS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 7, 1955 Aaron W Schopper INVENTOR. ao

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Feb. 21, 1956 A. W. SCHOPP ER PREFABRICATED WALL PANELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 7, 1955 Aaron W .Sc/)opper I N V EN TOR.

BY QM WWW United States Patent 4O 2,735,518 PREFABRICATED WALL PANELS Aaron W. 'schoppen Phoenix, Ariz. Application February 7, 1955, Serial No. 486,598 7 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to metal building construction and more particularly to a novel prefabricated wall panel for use in association with other building elements to form partitions and the like.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of wall panels which can be arranged so as to form partitions, interior walls, and the like, utilizing a minimum amount of material and forming spaced hollow metal box studs or vertical supports at desired intervals.

The construction of this invention features the utilization of metal panels which have suitable panel sections and flanges integrally formed therewith and bent normal to the central panel sections so that when the flanges of adjacent panels are arranged in overlapping relationship with the central panel sections of adjacent panels hollow box studs for rigidifying the construction will be formed.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of prefabricated wall panels that are simple in construction, inexpensive to produce, strong and durable, which While adapted for use in forming exterior walls are especially adapted for use in forming partitions which are capable of being easily erected and removed, and which have a unique and highly pleasing appearance.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this metal building construction, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanied drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a partition constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal view as taken along the plane of line 2 2 in Figure l and being shown in an enlarged scale for clarity;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View as taken along the plane of line 3 3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 4 4 in Figure 3 and illustrating the construction of the lower portions of the building construction;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 5 5 in Figure 2 and being shown in an enlarged scale for clarity;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the prefabricated metal panels;

Figure 7 is another perspective view of one of the panels;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a facing panel utilized in the metal building construction;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a channel member used in the formation of beams at the upper and lower portions of the metal building construction;

Figure l0 is a partial perspective View with parts being broken away showing the building construction in an intermediate stage of erection; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of r'ice the invention in which the upper and lower portions of the llanges are bent over to form ears or lugs.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the metal building construction comprising the present invention. This metal building construction employs a plurality of abutting panels, each designated by reference numeral 12 which are arranged so that adjacent panels face in the opposite direction to each other. i

The panels 12 each include a central substantially rectangular section 14 having panel sections 16 and 18 integrally formed therewith and bent normal thereto. `Integral with the panel sections 16 and 1S are flanges 20 and 22 which extend outwardly from the panel sections 16 and 18.

The upper and lower portions 24 and 26 of the central panel section 14 are bent normal thereto and towards the llanges 20 and 22.

The upper portions of the panel sections 16 and 18 are bent outwardly to form supports 23 and 30 and then angularly downwardly to form diagonal braces 32 and 34 which have llange portions 36 and 38 abutting the panel sections 16 and 18 and, as may be desired, Welded thereto. The lower ends of the panel sections 16 and 18 are likewise bent outwardly as at 40 and i2 and then upwardly to form diagonal braces 44 and 46 which terminate in llange portions 48 and 50 which may be welded to the panel sections'l and 18. This construction leaves lugs 52 and 54 at the upper portion of the panel 12, and 56 and 5S at the lower portion thereof which extend below the rest of the panel 12.

In the erection of a partition or wall, in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, channel members 60 may be utilized and-positioned between the oppositely facing lugs S2 and 54, and 56 and 58 at the upper and lower portions of the panels 12, the channel member 60 at the basethereof being utilized in conjunction with a conventional wood beam 62 to form a footing for the panels 12 as can be seen best in Figures 5 and 10. The ilanges 56 and 58 may be welded or otherwise secured to the channel 60 and a channel 60" is then positioned between the oppositely faced lugs 52 and 54 and the'v lugs 52 and 54 are welded to the channel 60". -A beam 6a. of wood or any other suitable material is 'then positioned in the channel 60".

When theadjacent panels 12 are arranged in abutting relationship, the flanges 20 and 22 will overlap the central panel sections 14 of the abutting panels, and entirely overlapping and enveloping the ilanges 2l) and 22 of each panel are facing panels 66 having arcuate edges 68 and 70 which may be butt welded at the junctures between the llanges 20 and 22 and the central panel sections 14. lf the butt Welds are not continuous, suitable molding (not shown) may be utilized.

In the modified form of the invention, as is shown in Figure l1, the lugs 52, 54, 56 and 5S are bent normal to the rest of the flanges and are apertured as at 68, 70, 72 for the reception of fasteners which may be used to bolt or otherwise tie the lugs to the beams.

It is to be recognized that the supports 2S, 30, 4l) and 42 form suitable means for supporting the beams and enable a speedy erection of the panels on the lower footing. Further, the adjacent panels form suitable hollow box studs by the arrangement of the flanges 20, 22 and the panel sections 16 and 18, as can be best seen in Figure 2.

From the foregoing,` the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further eX- planation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur 3 to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A panel for use in metal building construction comprising a central panel section having parallel panel sections integrally formed therewith and extending normal thereto, ilanges integral with said parallel panel sections extending outwardly normal thereto, the upper end of said central panel section being bent toward said anges to form a shelf, the upper ends of said parallel panel sections being bent outwardly to form supports and angularly downwardly to abut against said parallel panel sections forming diagonal braces for said supports.

2. A panel for use in metal building construction comprising a central panel section having parallel panel sections integrally formed therewith and extending normal thereto, anges integral with said parallel panel sections extending outwardly normal thereto, the upper and lower ends of said central panel section being bent toward said ilanges, the upper ends of said parallel panel sections being bent outwardly to form supports and angularly downwardly to abut against said parallel panel sections forming diagonal braces for said supports.

3. A metal building construction comprising a plurality of panels arranged in abutting relationship, each of said panels having parallel panel sections integrally formed therewith and extending normal thereto, anges integral with said parallel panel sections extending outwardly normal thereto, the upper end of said central panel section being bent toward said flanges to form a shelf, the upper ends of said parallel panel sections being bent outwardly to form supports and angularly downwardly to abut against said parallel panel sections forming diagonal braces for said supports, said anges partially overlapping the central panel section of the abutting panels.

4. A metal building construction comprising a plurality of panels arranged in abutting relationship, each of said panels having parallel panel sections integrally formed therewith and extending normal thereto, anges integral with said parallel panel sections extending outwardly normal thereto, the upper end of said central panel section being bent toward said flanges to form a shelf, the upper ends of said parallel panel sections being bent outwardly to form supports and angularly downwardly to abut against said parallel panel sections forming diagonal braces for said supports, said anges partially overlapping the central panel section of the abutting panels, and a beam on said supports and said shelf between the upper end of said anges, said upper ends of said flanges extending above said supports and said shelf.

5. A panel for use in metal building construction comprising a central panel section having parallel panel sections integrally formed therewith and extending normal thereto, ilanges integral with said parallel panel sections extending outwardly normal thereto, the upper end of said central panel section being bent toward said flanges to form a shelf, the upper ends of said parallel panel sections being bent outwardly to form supports and angularly downwardly to abut against said parallel panel sections forming diagonal braces vfor said supports, said upper ends of said flanges extending above said supports and said shelf.

6. A metal building construction comprising a plurality of panels arranged in abutting relationship, each of said panels having parallel panel sections integrally formed therewith and extending normal thereto, flanges integral with said parallel panel sections extending outwardly normal thereto, the upper end of said central panel section being bent toward said ilanges to form a shelf, the upper ends of said parallel panel sections being bent outwardly to form supports and angularly downwardly to abut against said parallel panel sections forming diagonal braces for said supports, said flanges partially overlapping the central panel section of the abutting panels, and facing panels overlapping said flanges of each of said panels and welded to the central panel sections of the abutting panels.

7. A metal building construction comprising a plurality of panels arranged in abutting relationship, each of said panels having parallel panel sections integrally formed therewith and extending normal thereto, ilanges integral with said parallel panel sections extending outwardly normal thereto, the upper end of said central panel section being bent toward said flanges to form a shelf, the upper ends of said parallel panel sections being bent outwardly to form supports and angularly downwardly to abut against said parallel panel sections forming diagonal braces for said supports, said anges partially overlapping the central panel section of the abutting panels, and a beam on said supports and said shelf between the upper ends of said anges, said upper ends of said flanges extending above said supports and said shelf, and facing panels overlapping said flanges of each of said panels and welded to the central panel sections of the abutting panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Reed July 18, 1939 

